Physical Capacity Building for Chronic Stroke

The general format of each exercise session includes assessment of resting heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) followed by a 5-minute warm-up, a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise followed by 25 minutes of resistance exercise. Aerobic exercise will always include a minimum of 10 minutes of walking (overground or treadmill) at the prescribed intensity followed by cycle, arm or rowing ergometry. Sessions will begin at a target intensity of \~60% heart rate reserve (HRR) determined from the exercise tolerance test performed at baseline and calculated using Karvonen's formula. The goal will be to increase training intensity by \~5% HRR every \~3 weeks and progressed as tolerated. Resistance exercise will target all major muscle groups and include multiple sets dosed at the 10-repetition to fatigue level (\~75% of the 1-repetition maximum). Resistance exercises will be progressed with improvements in strength or as tolerated.